News Science Quarterly (NS)

News Science Quarterly (NS)

Opportunities and Challenges of Investigative Journalism in Iran

Document Type : Original Article

Authors
Mohammad Gholi Minavand 1
Mohammad Mehdi Sohbati 2
Yasaman Kkhankesh Zadeh 3
1 Associate Professor, Department of Journalism, Faculty of Communication - Media Sciences, Broadcasting University (IRIB), Iran, (Corresponding author), E-mail: minavand@iribu.ac.ir
2 Master of Social Science Research, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran, Email: momahdisohbati@ut.ac.ir
3 Master of Media management, Department of Journalism, Faculty of Communications, Allameh Tabatabae'i, Tehran, Iran. E-mail:yasamankhani1380@gmail.com
10.22034/lrsi.2024.473270.1228
Abstract
Objective: The primary issue addressed in this study is understanding the opportunities and challenges of investigative journalism within the unique political, legal, and media structures of Iran. The research examines key variables such as the political structure, government and political forces, public opinion, legal frameworks, access to information, journalism education, and the processes of gaining experience. The objective of this research is to identify challenges, work towards overcoming them, and strengthen and utilize the opportunities and positive outcomes of investigative journalism to achieve results such as transparency and the reduction of corruption in the country.
Method: The study employs qualitative content analysis of interviews conducted with journalists, editors, media managers, legal experts, media experts, and communication and journalism scholars. The reliability of this research in the two main categories of challenges and opportunities was 0.71 and 0.80, respectively.
Findings: The opportunities identified include the high reach of state television and radio (IRIB), whistleblowing systems, the culture of promoting good and preventing wrongdoing (Amr bil Maroof), modern technologies, public support on social media, and Iran's status as a developing country. The challenges include weaknesses in journalism education, a weak party structure, poor performance of IRIB, the absence of specialized theoretical literature, slow and incomplete cooperation of organizations in providing information, the lack of specific laws for investigative journalists and their protection, broader criminal liability in Iran, the mis definition of journalism, the presence of disinformation in cyberspace, and the underutilization of modern technologies.
Conclusion: The challenges facing investigative journalism in Iran outweigh the opportunities. Addressing these issues begins with a unified definition of whistleblowing and investigative journalism and extends to political and legal reforms and promoting whistleblowing in public opinion. Like other Middle Eastern countries, Iran has significant weaknesses in information disclosure, with political structures exerting greater control over journalists. Investigative journalism in Iran, like in Saudi Arabia, has not yet matured.
Keywords
Investigative Journalism
Right to Access to Information
Law of Press
IRIBU
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